You’re wasting your money if you’re buying these 13 things in brand-new condition
<p>Used items can be the same great quality at a fraction of the price. Let someone else do all the hard work breaking these things in.</p>
<p><strong>Exercise equipment</strong></p>
<p>There’s a good chance exercise equipment like treadmills, ellipticals, and dumbbells, are still in good condition.</p>
<p>“Many people buy these items with the intentions of starting a regimen but fall off quickly and then try to unload these bulky goods that take up too much room,” says consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch.</p>
<p>Just make sure to research the brand and test the equipment before you buy, she says. In addition to the usual spots like garage sales, a local gym that’s getting renovated might be selling old equipment at killer prices, says Woroch.</p>
<p><strong>Hand tools</strong></p>
<p>There are so many used hand tools like hammers and wrenches on the market that there’s no reason to buy new, says Shelton.</p>
<p>If you’re on the market, he recommends checking out a surprising spot.</p>
<p>“Pawnshops are a great place for used tools,” says Shelton.</p>
<p>“A lot of times they’re coming from trade because people change jobs.”</p>
<p><strong>Gift cards</strong></p>
<p>“Buying gift cards used may seem like an unusual idea, but it’s actually becoming more mainstream as a unique way to save money,” says Woroch. You can save 10 to 30 percent on store credit at your go-to shops, or gift cards to give as presents, she says.</p>
<p><strong>Tech gadgets</strong></p>
<p>At the rate new technology comes out, a used phone or laptop from five years ago probably isn’t worth the buy.</p>
<p>But last year’s model could be a great value without making you feel like a dinosaur.</p>
<p>For instance, Apple sells certified refurbished laptops and computers with limited warranties.</p>
<p>Head to a big-box store or phone carrier for a refurbished smartphone, which are usually good quality, says Shelton.</p>
<p>Beware of buying used tech from companies you don’t know though.</p>
<p>“It’s already an off-brand, cheaply made product,” he says.</p>
<p>“If it’s been refurbished, it’s already had an issue, so there’s a pretty good chance it won’t last very long.”</p>
<p><strong>Sports gear</strong></p>
<p>Equipment for specific sports, like skis or golf clubs, are also a good idea to pick up used, says Shelton.</p>
<p>Beginners often buy the items but don’t stick with the sport, meaning the gear is still in great condition.</p>
<p>And if you don’t want to be that person shelling out hundreds on a sport you or your kid doesn’t love, you won’t lose much on a used version.</p>
<p>“If you find out you don’t like it, you could sell it to someone else and save money in the process,” says Shelton.</p>
<p><strong>Vehicles</strong></p>
<p>“New cars lose considerable value as soon as they leave the dealership’s lot, so it’s always best to buy used,” says Woroch.</p>
<p>Find a model that’s a year old and doesn’t have many miles for a like-new ride that costs way less.</p>
<p>You can even find cars on sites like Gumtree or eBay, but don’t take the price at face value.</p>
<p>Always negotiate with the seller.</p>
<p><strong>Furniture</strong></p>
<p>You can save tons of cash on furniture by buying preowned instead of new, especially if you shop at the right time.</p>
<p>Tax season, spring-cleaning time, and the holidays usually have the best prices and most options because people are often trying to downsize or sell those big-ticket items, says Shelton.</p>
<p>Even if your buy doesn’t look the right colour at first, you can easily treat and stain it.</p>
<p><strong>Clothing</strong></p>
<p>Thrifting your clothes can save you up to 90 percent on everything from jeans to tuxedos, says Woroch. Baby clothes are especially good to buy used.</p>
<p>“They’re going to outgrow it so fast,” says Shelton.</p>
<p>There’s a good chance the original buyers over-bought or received the outfits as gifts, so items are often like-new or even unworn.</p>
<p>Low price tags make consignment shops a good way to test-run trends that you’re not sure you’ll stick with, says Shelton.</p>
<p>Even if you get sick of that pair of jeans by next year, you won’t waste much money.</p>
<p>Footwear is the one exception.</p>
<p>Shoes tend to wear around a person’s specific foot shape, so a used pair probably won’t be too comfy, says Shelton.</p>
<p>Cleaning antique clothing is an exercise in avoiding modern conveniences, which are generally too harsh for fragile fabrics.</p>
<p><strong>Musical instruments</strong></p>
<p>Older models of musical instruments might actually be better quality than the ones you’ll find new on the shelf.</p>
<p>“Corporations find ways to cut corners and use plastic vs. metal,” says Shelton.</p>
<p>“Newer technology doesn’t have the same kind of tonal quality and build.”</p>
<p>Do a bit of research before you buy, and test the instrument if you can.</p>
<p><strong>Large appliances</strong></p>
<p>Ask the sellers how long they’ve been using it, and test it to make sure it works before you put any money down.</p>
<p>You could also head to an appliance repair shop to see if they’re selling refurbished items.</p>
<p>“That’s a good buy if it’s a good price, because it’s been looked over by a technician who knows what they’re doing and can make sure it will work for you,” says Shelton.</p>
<p>As a bonus, those shops will probably take your old one off your hands when they deliver the new-to-you one, so you don’t have a bulky appliance lying around.</p>
<p><strong>Textbooks</strong></p>
<p>“The unwritten rule is never buy textbooks new,” says Shelton.</p>
<p>“Sometimes you find nice little gems in there, like people highlighted things on your test or let good notes.”</p>
<p>Buying used textbooks used to be a wild race, but with eBooks surging, it’s easier to find what you want, he says.</p>
<p><strong>Bikes</strong></p>
<p>A new bicycle can cost hundreds of dollars, but a used one will cost a fraction of the price.</p>
<p>You can even buy just the frame, and beef it up with more expensive parts from another seller, she says.</p>
<p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5703e99-7fff-6440-d47d-6cf00dc79d0b">Written by Marissa Laliberte. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/money/youre-wasting-your-money-if-youre-buying-these-13-things-brand-new-condition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p>
<p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>
